In India, one woman dies every ten minutes during child birth. In Uttar Pradesh, women have tried to access government schemes related to maternal health; callousness and corruption have prevented them from availing any benefit.In Dighvat village of Banda district, Santoshi had to be taken on a cycle to the nearest sub centre in Chilla for child birth. The ambulance was not available on call. When Santoshi continued to bleed after a normal delivery, the ANM Mithilesh Srivastava said that Santoshi had a second baby to be delivered and referred her case to the District Hospital in Banda. Santoshi was put on a drip in the District Hospital in Banda. From here, she was referred to the district hospital in Kanpur. Santoshi died on the way. Her husband Ram Prakash wants to file a case; however, according to the ANM, their responsibility ends once they refer a case to a different hospital.
Gomti from Banda’s Bichhvahi village also lost her life when she continued to bleed for three hours after a normal delivery. According to Dr Captain R.K. Singh, the Chief Medical Officer in Banda, people die due to various reasons: death cannot be prevented. If there has been a lapse, we will look into the matter.
Whose responsibility is it finally?
A woman gave birth to a baby at 2 am outside Tarun’s Community Health Centre in Faizabad district. The baby died on birth. The Asha worker had asked for Rs. 50 for bringing the woman in the ambulance. In the CHC, the ANM Durgavati and Ved Prakash, the doctor on duty referred the case since it was a case of breech birth. The woman and her family had set off on foot when the ANM asked them for money for accompanying them. The baby was born and died just then. According to the doctor and the officer in charge Dr Ansar Ali, their responsibility ends once a woman walks out of the CHC on her own.
In Mahoba district’s Banhauri Kala village, Suman gave birth to three babies. The first baby died in the ambulance. The next day Suman was discharged from the hospital. On reaching home, the baby’s condition began to deteriorate. The ambulance was not available on call; by the time Suman arranged for her own transport, the baby passed away.
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